The best overall books for children, ranked by readers of all ages. Anyone can vote on this kids' book list, which makes these rankings a trustworthy way to find out which books your kids will love. Is a title missing? You can also add your own books to this list, and see how your taste stacks up against everyone else's. No matter if your kids are 9 year old budding lit experts, 5 year-olds just beginning to read on their own, or pre-schoolers still having you read aloud -- these are the books you remember and hope your own kids will.
For children in pre-school or younger, check out this list of the best books for toddlers or the best new children's books.
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Charlotte's Web
E. B. WhiteFirst Published: 1952
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature
Original Language: English Language
Charlotte's Web is a children's novel by American author E. B. White and illustrated by Garth... more on Wikipedia
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How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Dr. SeussFirst Published: 1957-11-24
Genres (Book): Children's literature
Original Language: English Language
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is a children's story by Theodor "Dr. Seuss" Geisel written in... more on Wikipedia - 326331
Green Eggs and Ham
Dr. SeussFirst Published: 1960
Genres (Book): Children's literature
Original Language: English Language
Green Eggs and Ham is a best-selling and critically acclaimed children's book by Dr. Seuss,... more on Wikipedia - 423736
The Cat in the Hat
Dr. SeussFirst Published: 1957-12-22
Subjects: Cat, Anthropomorphism
Genres (Book): Picture book, Children's literature
Original Language: English Language
The Cat in the Hat is a children's book written and illustrated by Theodor Geisel under the... more on Wikipedia - 519845
Where the Wild Things Are
Maurice SendakFirst Published: 1963
Subjects: Education, Games, Classics, Adventure, Children's film
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Picture book, Children's literature, Fiction, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
Where the Wild Things Are is a 1963 children's picture book by American writer and illustrator... more on Wikipedia - 619886
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
C. S. LewisFirst Published: 1950
Subjects: Evacuations of civilians in Britain during World War II
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a high fantasy novel for children by C. S. Lewis,... more on Wikipedia - 718349
The Lorax
Dr. SeussFirst Published: 1971-08-12
Subjects: Consumerism, Ecology, Knitting, Environmentalism
Genres (Book): Children's literature, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
The Lorax is a children's book written by Dr. Seuss and first published in 1971. It chronicles... more on Wikipedia - 817449
Goodnight Moon
Margaret Wise BrownFirst Published: 1947
Subjects: Moon, Rabbits, Classics, Animal
Genres (Book): Children's literature, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Goodnight Moon is an American children's picture book written by Margaret Wise Brown and... more on Wikipedia - 921951
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Roald DahlFirst Published: 1964
Subjects: Chocolate, Classics, Adventure, Family, Folklore
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Fiction, Fantasy
Original Language: Welsh Language, English Language
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a 1964 children's book by British author Roald Dahl. The... more on Wikipedia - 1012948
First Published: 1972-06
Subjects: Games, Drama, Family
Genres (Book): Children's literature
Original Language: English Language
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, published in 1972, is an ALA... more on Wikipedia - 1115365
James and the Giant Peach
Roald DahlFirst Published: 1961
Subjects: Classics, Drama, Adventure
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Fiction, Fantasy
Original Language: French Language, English Language
James and the Giant Peach is a popular children's novel written in 1961 by British author... more on Wikipedia - 1215656
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
Dr. SeussFirst Published: 1960
Genres (Book): Children's literature
Original Language: English Language
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish is a 1960 children's book by Dr. Seuss. It is a simple... more on Wikipedia - 1316248
Are You My Mother?
P. D. EastmanFirst Published: 1960-06-12
Genres (Book): Children's literature
Original Language: English Language
Are You My Mother? is a children's book by P. D. Eastman published by Random House Books for... more on Wikipedia - 1412845
Little House in the Big Woods
Laura Ingalls WilderFirst Published: 1932
Subjects: Literature, Classics, 19th century, Wisconsin, Family
Genres (Book): Western, Children's literature, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Little House in the Big Woods is a children's novel by Laura Ingalls Wilder published in 1932.... more on Wikipedia - 1515173
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
L. Frank BaumFirst Published: 1900-05-17
Subjects: Music, Wizards, United States of America, 20th century, History
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by... more on Wikipedia - 1614942
Clifford the Big Red Dog
Norman Bridwell - 1712534
Three Little Pigs
Heather Amery, Betty RootSubjects: Folklore, Animal
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature
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If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Laura NumeroffFirst Published: 1985
Genres (Book): Children's literature
Original Language: English Language
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie is a children's book written by Laura Numeroff and illustrated by... more on Wikipedia - 1913728
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Dr. SeussFirst Published: 1990-01-22
Genres (Book): Children's literature
Original Language: English Language
Oh, the Places You'll Go! is a book written and illustrated by children's author Dr. Seuss. It... more on Wikipedia - 2010834
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Crockett JohnsonFirst Published: 1955
Genres (Book): Children's literature
Harold and the Purple Crayon is a 1955 children's book by Crockett Johnson. This is Johnson's... more on Wikipedia - 2112476
The Hobbit
J. R. R. TolkienFirst Published: 1937-09-21
Subjects: Wizards, Literary, Epic film, Literature, Classics
Genres (Book): Children's literature, Fiction, Epic, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
The Hobbit, or There and Back Again is a fantasy novel and children's book by English author... more on Wikipedia - 2216251
Matilda
Roald DahlFirst Published: 1988
Subjects: Education, Humour, Classics, Adventure, Schools
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Humour, Children's literature, Fiction, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
Matilda is a children's novel by British author Roald Dahl. It was published in 1988 by... more on Wikipedia - 2312266
Stone Soup
Marcia BrownFirst Published: 1947
Subjects: France, Classics, Folklore
Genres (Book): Children's literature, Fiction
Stone Soup is a book by Marcia Brown. - 2414347
Where the Sidewalk Ends
Shel SilversteinFirst Published: 1974
Subjects: Classics, English Literature
Genres (Book): Poetry, Children's literature, Fiction
Original Language: English Language
Where the Sidewalk Ends is a collection of children's poetry written and illustrated by Shel... more on Wikipedia - 256455
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH
Robert C. O'BrienFirst Published: 1971
Subjects: Literature, Classics, Children's film, Animal
Genres (Book): Speculative fiction, Children's literature, Fiction, Science Fiction, Fantasy
Original Language: English Language
Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH is a 1971 children's book by Robert C. O'Brien, with... more on Wikipedia
